Six TDP MLAs suspended, ex-CM Naidu walks out of AP Assembly

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Six TDP MLAs suspended, ex-CM Naidu walks out of AP Assembly

Six opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) MLAs were suspended for the day on Friday by the Speaker as the Andhra Pradesh Assembly witnessed pandemonium on the fifth day of its Winter Session.

After Nimmala Ramanaidu, Bucchaya Choudary, Jogeshwara Rao, Satya Prasad, Ashok, and Ramaraju were suspended on the last day of the session, the opposition leader and former Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu also walked out of the House in protest.

Pandemonium prevailed as members discussed the dairy industry, with ruling and opposition legislators engaged in heated exchange of words.

Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy said that he had expected Naidu to be present during the discussion on the dairy industry but he, unfortunately, chose to let his party members storm the Speaker’s podium and create chaos for selfish purposes.

Reddy alleged that the opposition leader had given media interviews and was spreading “falsehoods” after walking out of the House.

Meanwhile, Speaker Tammineni Seetharam objected to the conduct of opposition lawmakers in the Assembly. “Every day, you are blocking the House from functioning. I am sad to suspend you every day. Considering their behavior, I have no other option,” lamented Seetharam.

Ruling party whip Gadikota Srikanth Reddy complained that valuable time of the Assembly members was getting wasted daily while voicing his displeasure over the TDP MLAs’ conduct near the Speaker’s seat.

AP govt not clearing village development bills of Rs 2.5K cr: TDP

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AP govt not clearing village development bills of Rs 2.5K cr: TDP

Even as opposition leaders took out a protest rally to the Assembly on Friday, TDP General Secretary Nara Lokesh accused the Andhra Pradesh government of not paying up Rs 2,500 crore in bills raised for developmental activities done in villages during the TDP rule.

“The government is harassing them by not paying up bills totaling Rs 2,500 crore to those who carried out developmental activities in villages during the Telugu Desam Party regime,” Lokesh said.

He demanded that the government led by Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy should immediately clear the pending bills.

Lokesh demanded that the pending bills of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act scheme should also be paid immediately.

Meanwhile, TDP National President and former Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu were among those who rallied along with fellow legislators on the fifth day of the Assembly Winter Session, carrying placards and posters in protest.

Earlier, Naidu slammed Reddy for allegedly “misleading and betraying poor beneficiaries by spreading fake news on pensions, ration cards, and other benefits”.

BJP gains in UP Vidhan Parishad polls

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BJP gains in UP Vidhan Parishad polls

BJP is emerging as a major gainer in the elections to 11 seats of Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council which began a day ago and is still underway amid tight security on Friday.

The BJP, earlier, had not put up candidates in these elections but this time, the saffron party has fielded candidates.

In these 11 seats, there are five block graduate and six section teacher seats, on which BJP, Samajwadi Party, and Congress have fielded candidates.

Umesh Dwivedi of BJP won the Lucknow Teachers seat. He got a total of 7,065 votes, while second place was held by Independent candidate Dr. Mahendra Nath Rai.

Out of a total of 17,985 votes, Umesh Dwivedi got 7,065 votes after counting 17,077 valid votes. Mahendra Nath Rai got 3,818 votes. Samajwadi Party candidate Uma Shankar got 2,238 first preference votes. The counting of votes for the graduate constituency is still underway.

The Uttar Pradesh Secondary Teachers Association (Sharma faction) candidate Dhruv Kumar Tripathi has scored a hat-trick win in the Gorakhpur-Faizabad Block Teacher Constituency in the 2020 elections.

He becomes the first candidate to win this seat three times in a row. He defeated his nearest rival Ajay Singh by 1,008 votes. Dhruv got 10,227 votes while Ajay Singh got 9,219 votes. The Meerut division Teachers seat has thrown one of the biggest shockers of the season.

BJP candidate Shrichand Sharma got the highest 8,222 votes after counting all the preference votes. His nearest rival and eight-time Legislative Council member Om Prakash Sharma was defeated with just 3,305 votes.

Om Prakash Sharma has held the seats for 48 years and his defeat has left many shocked.

The voting percentage in teachers’ constituencies was relatively better than that in the five graduates’ constituencies, with the highest turnout of 73.94 percent witnessed in Gorakhpur-Faizabad teachers constituency; followed by 73.48 percent in Bareilly-Moradabad; 70.78 in Agra; and 68.83 in Varanasi Teachers’ seat.

At 33.93 percent, the Varanasi division graduates’ constituency reported the lowest voter turnout, followed by Agra at 41.56 percent. A total of 199 candidates contested the 11 Vidhan Parishad seats in UP MLC Elections.

Of the six MLC seats in the teachers’ quota, BJP fielded candidates on four seats while Samajwadi Party and Sharma faction fielded candidates on all six seats.

The tenure of the members in these seats was completed in May this year, but the elections could not be held due to the Coronavirus pandemic and the lockdown.

Counting of votes begin in Greater Hyderabad polls

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Counting of votes begin in Greater Hyderabad polls

Counting of the votes cast in Tuesday’s Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) municipal polls began on Friday amid tight security.

Counting of the votes cast in all 150 divisions began at 8 a.m. at 30 places in the city with the Telangana State Election Commission deploying over 8,000 personnel.

Since paper ballots were used in the elections, the results are likely to be known only late in the evening. Postal ballots were first taken up for counting. The authorities have arranged 150 counting halls with 14 tables in each hall.

State Election Commissioner C. Parthasarthy said a counting supervisor and two assistants were deployed at each table. Police have made elaborate security arrangements in the city in view of the counting.

Prohibitory orders and traffic restrictions were imposed around counting centers. Hyderabad, Cyberabad, and Rachakonda police have imposed a ban on victory rallies for the next 48 hours.

Out of a total of 74.67 lakh voters, 46.55 percent has cast their votes in 149 divisions on Tuesday. Polling in one division was stopped due to discrepancy in the ballot paper and a re-poll was held on Thursday.

The day will decide the political fortunes of 1,122 candidates. The bitterly contested elections saw a high-decibel campaign with the participation of several central ministers and top national leaders of the BJP.

Union Ministers Amit Shah, Prakash Javadekar, Smriti Irani; BJP president J.P. Nadda and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath have campaigned for the BJP, which fought hard to wrest the key municipal body from ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS).

Congress, Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM), and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) were among the other major contesting parties.

The campaign saw no-hold-barred attacks by political opponents. Remarks by some leaders created controversies.

The promise by BJP leaders to change the name of Hyderabad to Bhagyanagar if the party voted to power also sparked a row. In the 2016 elections, TRS had captured GHMC with a landslide majority of 99 in a 150-member body.

The MIM was the second-largest party with 44 seats, while the BJP was distant with only four seats.

Chhattisgarh CM wants FCI to procure 40L MT of rice

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Chhattisgarh CM wants FCI to procure 40L MT of rice

Amid the ongoing protest by the farmers against the Central farm laws, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has written a letter to Union Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Minister Piyush Goyal, seeking permission for the Food Corporation of India (FCI) to procure 26 lakh metric tonnes of parboiled (usna) rice and 14 lakh metric tonnes of raw (arwa) rice under the Central pool in the Kharif year 2020-21.

In his letter, the Chief Minister said that 400 usna rice mills in the state have a milling capacity of 5.68 lakh metric tonnes per month while 1,504 arwa rice mills in the state have a milling capacity of 18.83 lakh metric tonnes per month.

Informing Goyal that the FCI in Kharif year 2016-17 and earlier had procured parboiled rice as well as raw rice, Baghel said that the FCI should procure the surplus paddy (parboiled and raw) from the state so that paddy procured under the DCP scheme can be processed timely without any damage to the crop.

“The Centre has approved the action plan to take 60 lakh metric tonnes of rice after custom milling of paddy to be procured at the support price in the Kharif marketing year 2020-21 in the state of Chhattisgarh,” the CM said.

Out of this, it is expected that 40 lakh metric tonnes of surplus rice will be procured by the FCI under the Central pool and the remaining 20 lakh metric tonnes will be procured by the Chhattisgarh State Civil Supplies Corporation for its requirement under the PDS scheme.

Time has come to change fate of TN: Rajinikanth

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Time has come to change fate of TN: Rajinikanth

Time has come to change the fate of Tamil Nadu, while political and government change in the state is important and compulsion of time, said actor Rajinikanth on Thursday.

The actor sounded his poll bugle against the ruling AIADMK government as well as against the major opposition party DMK.

Rajinikanth said he would float his political party in January 2021 and an announcement in that regard will be made on December 31, 2020.

Speaking to reporters here, Rajinikanth said: “The time has come to change the fate of Tamil Nadu. Political and government change in the state is important. It will surely change. Political change is important and is compulsion of time. If not now, it is not possible ever. Everything has to be changed. We will change everything.” He appealed to all to support him to bring in the change.

“I am just a small instrument in the change. If I win then it is people’s victory,” he added.

He said that in 2017 he had announced his decision to enter politics and contest in all the 234 Assembly seats.

According to him, though doctors had advised against holding rallies, if his life goes for the benefit of people then he is not worried about it. Rajinikanth also said 40 percent shooting is pending for his movie Annaatthe which he will complete.

What does the PM stand by: Rahul quizzes govt over Covid vax

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What does the PM stand by: Rahul quizzes govt over Covid vax

Former Congress Chief Rahul Gandhi took a swipe at the Centre by highlighting the differing stance of the BJP and the Centre on the issue of vaccinating every Indian.

Tweeting on Thursday, Rahul said, “PM – Everyone will get the vaccine. BJP in Bihar elections – Everyone in Bihar will get a free vaccine. Now, Government – Never said everyone will get the vaccine. Exactly what does the Prime Minister stand by?” he tweeted.

The BJP during the Bihar Assembly polls had promised that free vaccine will be given to all if voted to power. The Congress leader’s remarks came a day after Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said that the government never spoke of vaccinating everyone against Covid-19.

At a press briefing on Wednesday Bhushan said, “I just want to make this clear that the government has never spoken about vaccinating the entire country. It’s important that we discuss such scientific issues, based on factual information only and then analyze it.”

Modi speaks to Telangana BJP chief, enquires about GHMC polls

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Modi speaks to Telangana BJP chief, enquires about GHMC polls

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday spoke to Telangana BJP chief Bandi Sanjay Kumar over the phone and enquired about the municipal elections held in Greater Hyderabad on Tuesday.

Sanjay said Modi spoke to him for 10 minutes and enquired about the voting trend in Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) polls.

The MP from Karimnagar stated that Prime Minister congratulated BJP leaders and workers for putting up a tough fight. He also enquired about the attacks on the party cadres.

According to the BJP leader, Modi expressed his happiness over the new vigor and enthusiasm among the party cadres. “Prime Minister advised the Telangana BJP workers to move ahead with the same spirit,” Sanjay said. A total of 46.60 percent of over 74 lakh voters cast their votes on Tuesday in 149 divisions.

Polling in one division was postponed after a discrepancy in the ballot paper. Telangana State Election Commission had ordered re-polling in all 69 polling booths of Old Malakpet division on Thursday. The counting of votes will be taken up on Friday.

The fate of 1,122 candidates was sealed in ballot boxes in the bitterly contested elections, which saw a shrill campaign and attracted national attention due to participation by BJP bigwigs including central ministers Amit Shah, Prakash Javadekar, Smriti Irani, party’s national president J. P. Nadda and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

Upbeat over its victory in the recent by-election to Dubbak Assembly seat, BJP upped the ante to turn GHMC polls into a battle to make big inroads in South India.

Ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), which had won landslide majority in 2016 polls with 99 seats in 150-member municipal body, appears confident to retain power despite the saffron surge while Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) is looking to hold on to 44 seats it won in the last elections.

Meanwhile, a delegation of BJP leaders called on State Election Commissioner C. Parthasarthy, alleging that MIM resorted to rigging during the polling in few divisions in the old city.

BJP legislator Ramachandra Rao alleged that the voter turnout which was low till 5 p.m. suddenly picked up during the last one hour. He said MIM MLA Mumtaz Ahmed Khan and his followers were involved in irregularities.

Stating that 94 percent polling was recorded in few polling booths in Ghansi Bazar and Puranapul, he demanded repolling. The election commissioner assured that he will seek a report from the election observer and take a decision. After the polling, BJP had blamed the TRS government and State Election Commission for the low turnout.

Union minister of state for home, G. Kishan Reddy alleged that Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) government used State Election Commission (SEC) to bring down the voter turnout to work to its advantage.

Need law against ‘love jihad’ in Gujarat also: BJP MLA

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Need law against ‘love jihad’ in Gujarat also: BJP MLA

A BJP legislator in Gujarat has demanded a law on the lines of the one enforced in Uttar Pradesh against illegal religious conversions to tackle what he called ‘love jihad’ cases in the state.

Dabhoi MLA Shailesh Mehta said in a public statement that he will shortly propose to the Gujarat government to bring forth a stringent law against ‘love jihad’.

“A stringent law against ‘love jihad’ will be brought in every state where the BJP is in power. Gujarat is the first state to believe in Hindutva — so obviously a law against ‘love jihad’ will be brought forth here too. There are so many ‘love jihad’ incidents happening in Gujarat. So a strict law should be framed in Gujarat in all circumstances,” he told the media.

Later, he told a local news channel: “There are so many such incidents happening across the country. The Yogi government in UP brought a law regarding this issue. Similarly, a stricter law than the one in UP should be enacted in Gujarat. Shortly, I will meet Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, his deputy Nitin Patel and Minister of State for Home Pradeepsinh Jadeja and put forth the proposal in writing.”

“For some time, underage Hindu girls have been lured into the trap through fake Hindu names… this has happened in Vadodara city and the district… I have not received any individual complaint as yet, but there are so many complaints registered with the police. Recently, a man named Taufiq impregnated a 15-year-old Hindu girl. A complaint in this regard was registered with the police,” added Mehta.

He said that under the proposed law, families of young women who wish to convert should be informed three months in advance of the inter-religion marriage. “The parents should get time to convince their daughters, and if girls are underage, the law should provide for the hanging of culprits,” the BJP MLA said.

On November 28, Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel gave her nod to the ordinance on religious conversions promulgated by the Yogi Adityanath government, paving the way for its enforcement across the state with immediate effect.

The Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Ordinance, 2020, was sent to the Raj Bhavan for necessary action after the Cabinet’s approval.

According to the ordinance, a change of religion of a woman solely for the purpose of marriage will lead to the annulment of such marriage. As per the ordinance, for religious conversion, parties concerned will have to declare before the prescribed authority that such change of religion is totally voluntary.

The parties concerned will have to inform the District Magistrate two months in advance on the prescribed pro forma regarding the plan to change one’s religion. Violation of the provisions is punishable by jail terms ranging from six months to three years.

Those involved in the change of religion of a woman solely for the purpose of marriage will be jailed for terms ranging from one to five years.

Former IAS officer Santhosh Babu joins Kamal Haasan’s MNM party

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Former IAS officer Santhosh Babu joins Kamal Haasan’s MNM party

Former IAS officer Santhosh Babu on Tuesday joined Makkal Needhi Maiam floated by actor turned politician Kamal Haasan. Babu has been made the party’s General Secretary-Headquarters.

Speaking to the media here, Kamal Haasan said that Babu — who had taken voluntary retirement after serving the Tamil Nadu government — will handle the party’s information technology, data, research, and other issues.

Babu said he foresees IT-enabled predictive governance, which would obviate the need for people to go to government offices for applying for documents.

Kamal Haasan said he would seek Rajinikanth’s support in the 2021 Tamil Nadu Assembly polls. The MNM founder said that if Rajinikanth enters politics he too would contest.

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